“The dummy of Harold and the Purple Crayon came this morning, and I’ve just read it. I don’t know what to say about it. It doesn’t seem to be a good children’s book to me but I’m often wrong – “
From a letter to Crockett Johnson, November 22, 1954, from his editor, Ursula Nordstrom. Read the rest in Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom, collected and edited by Leonard Marcus, Harpercollins, 1998.
Today is Crockett Johnson’s birthday. 1906 – 1975.
20 October 2009 at 10:14 am
A crayon is a real-life magic wand.
20 October 2009 at 10:42 am
I loved Dear Genius. Have you read Awakened By The Moon, his biography of Margaret Wise Brown? Also excellent and inspiring and full of picture book love.
20 October 2009 at 10:56 am
Oooh, Amber, I love the way you put that.
Jacqui, I have read at that book and thanks for reminding me to do that again. I’m also looking forward to reading FUNNY BUSINESS, Marcus’s latest.
3 December 2009 at 2:53 pm
i would love that image of the crayon…. its amazing
3 December 2009 at 9:11 pm
Hi Shua – I drew it with… a crayon!
4 December 2009 at 1:45 am
on what may i ask?
4 December 2009 at 8:51 am
Nothing special – just a plain old purple crayola crayon on plain old no-brand white drawing paper. The materials that kids use. Like Harold!